2011-12-16T17:23:00.000-08:00

UPDATED: Man pulled from Niantic River Friday morning dies

By Sasha Goldstein

Publication: theday.com
Published 12/16/2011 12:00 AM
Updated 12/16/2011 07:31 PM

Sean D. Elliot/The Day
A Niantic fire department boat and a civilian boat carrying a Waterford firefighter patrol the waters of the Niantic River after a man was pulled from the water Friday morning, Dec. 16, 2011. He was transported to Lawrence and Memorial Hospital but later died.

Waterford – A 53-year-old man pulled from the Niantic River this morning was later declared dead, police said.

Lt. David Burton said a call came in around 10 a.m. reporting a grounded, 10-foot blue and white Whaler with its engine running.

Minutes later, Burton said, a second call came in reporting an individual in the water. Officers responded to the Niantic River Road side of the river and pulled the man from the water. He was transported to Lawrence and Memorial Hospital but later declared dead, Burton said.

Burton said the man was the owner and operator of the idling skiff.

Burton said the death is not considered suspicious but remains under investigation. It's a joint investigation with the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Burton said, because DEEP investigates fatal boating accidents.

The man's identity has not been released.

Conditions were windy and clear Friday morning. Emergency personnel were still on scene along Niantic River Road, near Bayside and 7th Avenue, around 11 a.m.

Niantic Fire